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Post by brigond on Nov 20, 2013 9:18:23 GMT -5
The 318 is to me is a good durable engine . I think most would agree. I know its less desirable because its the base V8 option and has low HP.
I always wondered why the 318 engines is the least desirable when it comes to performance.
Is it just not worth souping it up?
Is it that it has limitations and can't be worked for Horsepower?
What kind of power have you or anybody you know has been able to achieve with the 318?
Just something that I always wondered.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2013 9:45:33 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2013 10:29:00 GMT -5
Years ago, a 360 was easy to find in about any junkyard. Even all the popular car magazines of the day wrote about skipping the 318 and building a 360 since they were plentiful. Nothing wrong with building a 318, it just made more sense to have the extra cubes for a build up since the cost was probably going to be the same.
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DynoDave
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Post by DynoDave on Nov 20, 2013 11:56:50 GMT -5
Yup, cubes = power, and since it's introduction as a 273 replacement, it's had the least cubes of any Mopar V8.
But it responds to all the same hot rodding trick...cam, headers, intake, carburetor, ignition, compression.
It's just that, for the money spent, the gains will be proportionally smaller. If you build otherwise identical engines, one a 318 and the other a 360, the 360 starts with more power, and after the aftermarket bolt-ons, it gains even more.
If HP is your goal, you are handicapping yourself by building the smallest example. There's nothing wrong with the engine, it's just small.
I do believe the pre-Magnum 318 head, based on it's factory expectation of modest HP, is a fairly restrictive one, with small valves and ports. This further limits the improvements you can see, even with bolt-ons.
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Post by brigond on Nov 20, 2013 15:27:05 GMT -5
That was a great read Tom. It gives 318 owners who want to keep their cars matching #s some room to play.
I have noticed that many of the overseas charger owners have 318 cars. I'm quite sure its for fuel economy reasons.
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Archie
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Post by Archie on Nov 28, 2013 0:59:39 GMT -5
One thing I noticed after being out of the hobby for many years is 318 cars are in the minority. Back in the eighties and early nineties, I owned a 70 barracuda, 73 Charger SE, 74 roadrunner and a 74 charger SE, all 318 cars that were relatively cheap and plentiful. As good mopars became harder to find many 318's got tossed in favor of bigger mills. I'm pretty certain my barracuda later became someone's hemicuda. The 318 is the bread and butter motor. It would get you to the store and back without any complaints. If you wanted excitement you were best off getting something else. The potential is there but the pay off is greater with more cubic inches..
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2013 14:09:01 GMT -5
Sometimes I think having a 318 instead of a BB would be the way to go. Sounds the same, almost, and nobody would know anyway.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2013 14:48:45 GMT -5
Sometimes I think having a 318 instead of a BB would be the way to go. Sounds the same, almost, and nobody would know anyway. Guess that depends on what you want from your car....If your driving style is to just cruise, then yes 318 ok......If you want a Muscle car then no, not even close I dont see spending any real performance improvements on a 318.....making it more reliable yes, to me waste of dollars trying to squeeze HP from it... I had 340's, 360's and even though they were quick, they never were the same as a big block, these cars are heavy and need Cubes/torque And the sound.....well a cammed BB sounds way different then a cammed SB ....you cant fake that sound to well, in my opinion All up to drivers taste |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2013 16:42:41 GMT -5
It was the cruising aspect I was mostly writing about. Granted, easy muscle would be the BB hands own. I like to cruise and not get on it much. Except when I took Tom for a short muscle cruise. "OK Bob that's enough". Or something like that.  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2013 17:30:03 GMT -5
Sometimes I think having a 318 instead of a BB would be the way to go. I have a good running 318/904 combo that I would be more than happy to trade.  |
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